GAIA Participates in Meetings to Address Waste Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean

GAIA participated in a series of events addressing waste issues in Bogotá, Colombia in October. GAIA members from 10 Latin American countries joined in a Zero Waste and Climate meeting and participated in an international forum about Zero Waste and Inclusion with the Latin American Recyclers Network. GAIA members also met to discuss the work of the alliance in the region and the options for working with recyclers at the national level, as well as joining the march that gathered over 2,000 people in the streets of Bogotá to call for inclusive solid waste management policies in the city.

During the four days of work, the participants discussed the state of recycling and Zero Waste policies in the region, the impacts of waste incineration on public health, the environment and livelihoods, the relationship between waste and climate change -false and real solutions-, and the history and status of the wastepickers movement in Latin America and in other regions. The participants also discussed shared goals and synergies between the waste pickers and other anti-incinerator groups in the region.

The participants agreed on the following joint demands to present to the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean:

· a ban on all new incineration and landfill projects,

· the elimination of all subsidies and public investment aimed at existing incineration and landfill projects,

· decision-making procedures in which wastepickers have an integral role, and public policies that promote sustainable solutions.

The group also discussed a position on the framework of international climate change negotiations. They rejected incineration and landfill projects supported by the "Clean Development Mechanism" (CDM). They also supported a call for the implementation of a global climate fund with strong community accountability mechanisms. Operating under the administration of the UNFCCC and national governments, the fund would recognize climate debt, help the development of Zero Waste policies and programs with social inclusion, support education and health programs in relation to climate change, and provide direct access to non-governmental groups.

To read the full list of demands, click box below. 

In addition, the presentations made during the workshop, a series of slides of the experience in Bogotá, and other information about the workshop can be found on the workshop webpage: http://www.tallergaia.basuracerobahia.org/ created by GAIA member Bruno Giambelucca, from Basura Cero Bahía Blanca.